Externally stabilized lighting devices



' Dec. 5 1967 J, J, HORAN I 3,356,841

EXTERNALLY STABILIZED LIGHTING DEVICES Filed June 29, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 5, 1967 J. J. HORAN 3,356,841

BXTERNALLY STABILIZED LIGHTING DEVICES Filed June 29, 1966 V I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 v I 96 9 s e 97 Dec. 5, 1967 J. J; HORAN 3,356,841

EXTERNALLY-STABILIZED LIGHTING DEVICES Filed June 29, 1966 5 Sheets-$heet a FIG.

United States Patent 3,356,841 EXTERNALLY STABILIZED LIGHTING DEVICES John J. Horan, 420 Quigley Ave., Willow Grove, Pa. 19090 Filed June 29, 1966, Ser. No. 561,450 16 Claims. (Cl. 240-31) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to household lighting apparatus, principally in the category known as floor lamps. The new class of lighting apparatus disclosed herein has only minimal base structure and ballastin-g, relying instead on low-height foot plates that are stabilized by anchoring them under furniture and/ or rugs and carpets.

This invention relates to decorative and useful household devices in the category known as floor lamps. There is disclosed a new class of lighting stands or lighting apparatus having only minimal base structure and ballasting. The lamp holders instead rely on a flat, low-height foot plate which is stabilized by anchoring it under furniture and/ or rugs.

Objects of the invention are:

To introduce new kinds of structure enabling the manufacture of new, low-cost types of floor lamps;

To impart stability to illuminating stands having minimum pedestal weight and area and exercising minimum interference with furniture placement;

To introduce lighting structure that affords new ease of positioning and adjustment of the light source and new ease of access for floor cleaning around the base thereof;

To afford esthetic new freedom in the styling of household lamp standards, in contrast to old requirements for heavy, stiff, and stodgy standards.

Other objects and novel features will become apparent in the balance of the specification, in the claims, and in the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an oblique view of the structure of an illuminating apparatus of this invention;

FIG. 2 is an oblique View of a second lighting apparatus of this invention; 7

FIG. 3 is an oblique view of a third lighting stand structure of this invention;

FIG. 4 is a partly sectioned view of a fourth structure of this invention;

FIG. 5 is a partly sectioned view of a fifth lighting structure;

FIG. 6 is a view showing the cross section of the sliding base of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a partly sectioned view of the lower part of a sixth lighting stand;

FIG. 8 is a partly sectioned elevation of the lower part of a seventh form;

FIG. 9 is a view of the foot of FIG. 8 from above;

FIG. 10 is an elevation of an eighth form of lighting stand;

FIG. 11 is a view of the foot of FIG. 10 from above;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary view from the lower right of the stand of FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary view of a height adjustment means applicable to the device of FIG. 10;

FIG. 14 is a side elevation of a ninth form of lighting apparatus;

FIG. 15 is a view of the apparatus of FIG. 14 from above.

Referring now particularly to FIG. 1, there is seen a thin U-shaped or twin-teed sheetametal base plate or foot 21, having, for a fastening means at the heel portion, an upwardly projecting threaded stud 22 spotwelded in place at the base of the U. This base plate is normally placed under a rug. The stud 22 preferably has a sharp pointed tip, which forces its Way upward through the rug when light pressure is applied. Internally threaded swivel pin 23 is screwed down upon stud 22 and is then ready to receive thereupon the tubular column or upright member 24 of lighting stand or apparatus 25, which is capable of being swiveled in place on pin 23. An electric cord 26 supplies power. The illuminating device 27, which surmounts the apparatus and contains an electric lamp, may swing through an are limited by the clearance between stop pin 28 and the notch 29 at the bottom of column 24, so that the overhanging portion 27 will not depart from a range of positions generally over the toes of foot 21.

Referring in turn to FIG. 2, very thin sheet metal foot 31 has a shallow boss 32 at the heel that is tapped to receive the threaded base end 33 of upright member 34, which is pierced through the rug and then is rotated several turns in order that the threads will be adequately engaged to fasten member 34 to foot 31. The illuminating device includes reflector 35, within which is a socket for an electric lamp and a switch means for the lamp, neither of which is seen in the view, though the chain 38 for operating the switch is visible. Reflector 35 and the parts within may be rotated about hollow pivots 36, through one of which the upper end of electrical cord 37 reaches the switch and lamp socket.

With a structure of this type, it becomes possible to align the illuminating device at the top of the upright member elsewhere than in a position directly over the centerline of foot 31. It is also evident that, without a rug, hassock, etc., to hold down the foot 31, the apparatus can become unable to resist tipping especially when reflector 35 is rotated away from a position above foot 31 and when chain 38 is pulled to actuate the switch that lights the lamp.

Referring now to FIG. 3, shallow ring-shaped foot plate 41 has three pointed pins 42 extending upwardly therefrom and capable of piercing a rug from below. Tripod legs 43 slip snugly over the pins and, together with electrical cord 44, are gathered into and secured within tubular upright member 45, which is surmounted by a lamp bulb enclosed within diffuser 46. With a straight and vertical upright member 45, and without overhang in the fixture portion thereabove, the matter of stability is a lesser problem than in some of the other embodiments herein.

' Referring next to FIG. 4, foot or base plate 51, of character generally like those of feet 21 and 31, is preferably tapered slightly in cross section as shown. Such taper will normally be of lesser magnitude generally than the thickness of rug 57. Foot 51 carries two sharp pointed machine screws 52 fed through from below the heel portion. Clamp plate 53 captures flange 54 of upright member 56 and is fastened down upon the intervening rug 57 by nuts 58 which ride down upon screws 52. Like certain other upright members herein, shaft 56 may be rotated within clamp plate 53 and may additionally be flexible, as shown.

By separating hanging illuminating device 60 temporarily from upright member 56, pot 61, of metal, ceramic, or plastic, may be slipped over the tip of shaft 56 to conceal details of the base end and fastening structure and may serve as a planter, etc., or may be closed by plate 62. By such means, the stabilizing power of the rug 57 may be enhanced. Electrical cord 63 may pass out through a slot 64 under pot 61.

'2 ml) Referring'now to FIG; 5, foot 71, which may be similar to foot 51 or others seen herein, is tapped in the heel area to receive from above two fiat-head fastening screws 72, by which pivot 73 is held down upon rug 571 Pivot 73, which is generally cylindrical, has a pin" 74 therethrough to limit the rotational excursion of sliding base 75 therearound. If not so limited, sliding base 75 might be rotated as much as 180, rendering stability more precarious. In' fact, except for the stabilizing effect of rug 57', operation of switch 81 might furnish all of the disturbing force needed to upset the entire apparatus;

Sliding base 75 is conveniently a roll-formed section of sheet metal as seen in FIG. 6; or it may be cast in a heavier section if desired. The travel of sliding base 75 is limited at one end by the presence of ballast weight 76, which might well be enlarged in proportion beyond the showing, and at the other end by the shoe 77 of tubular upright member 78, which may be pinned as shown or otherwise secured in place to its base end assembly. A slim upward extension 79 of upright member 78 may, if desired, be flexible as shown. Cocking of resilient extension' 79 under the weight of the illuminating device 80 will usually be sufficient to lock it in place at any desired height; or optionally, it may be locked by more positive means, such as a set screw. Presence of the extension 79 at the upper end and of sliding'base 75 at the base end of the upright member gives the stand of FIG. an extraordinary range of positioning adjustment of the illuminating device. In addition, judicious balancing of traverses available at both ends of the upright member, so as to make use of moments available from counterweighting ballast 76, lessens the lifting forces on rug 57, avoiding any creeping stretch.

Referring now to FIG. 7, there is shown a foot plate 91, also similar to foot 51. Two end-welded, sharppointed fastening studs 92 project upwardly through rug 57. Nuts and washers 93 fasten pivot collar 94 in place upon rug 57. Pivot shaft 95 is captured and rotatable within collar 94. The pivot shaft has a transverse hole, oblong or triangular in shape, through which base end runner 96, of well fitting similar section, is horizontally slidable. Ballast 97 is suspended from one end of runner 96, which may be considered to be the base end of the upright member of the lamp fixture; The looped end 98 of whip shaft 99, the lower end of the resilient portion of the upright member, isadjustably clamped in the desired rotational setting by wing nut 100 against pad 101 at the other end of runner 96. Member 99 may support any desired form of lighting fixture, including those seen in other views.

Referring now to FIG. 8, there is seen a lamp stand having a base or foot 101 of thin sheet metal with a shallow stiffening rim 102. Retainer 103 is spotwelded around the circular opening at the toe end of foot 101, holding saucer 104 in position there but permitting it to rotate in place. The actual amount of dishing of saucer 104 is extremely slight, little more than the thickness of the metal of foot 101, plus an optional coating of polytetrafluorethylene on the rim.

The opening at the heel is provided for assembly thereto of the upright member105, an elastic shaft retained in place by its own upper flange 106 and lower flange 107, either of which may be advanced into position on a thread of secured permanently by adhesive bonding, riveting, spinning, etc., with foot 101 in place. Other methods of assembly, such as joining together two halves of foot 101, are also possible. Flu'oririated polymer coating between surfaces of the foot and those of the upright member may facilitate swiveling adjustments of position of the illuminating device which may be cantilevered at the upper end of the upright member 105. Presence of such a device may make the lamp stand very topheavy.

The phantom lines designate a leg 108 of an item of extraneous furniture and a cup-shaped coaster 109, such as are frequently used to protect floors from being marred by heavily loaded, small-diameter furniture legs. Under the weight of the extraneous furniture, the leg 108 is enabled to hold saucer 104 firmly down against any tendency of the cantilevered load above to tip over by first lifting an edge or toe of the foot. With its stiffened rim 102, foot 101 is sufliciently rigid to prevent excessive flexing therein under the gravity moment of the illuminating device and the upright member, plus the forces imparted at various points thereabove when the stand is handled to switch the lamp on and off, or to dust, adjust or shift it, as well as when it is inadvertently jostled.

Any tilt of the extraneous furniture that might be caused by positioning of one leg 108 upon saucer 104 may be compensated by removing coaster 109-, which, like saucer 104, normally would have a wafer thin bottom surface. The other legs of the furniture item would retain their shallow bottomed coasters, which, incidentally, may be sold in matched sets with the apparatus 01 FIGS. 8 and 9.

Alternatively, if coasters are objected to, self-adhering inconspicuous discs, matched to the saucer metal or other material in thickness, may be applied to the other legs of the furniture. Thus, for a very small investment, the present requirement for heavy, space-p'reempting and costly mass-stabilized bases of conventional floor lamps and bridge lamps may be avoided. The lamp stand of FIGS. 8 and 9 is not restricted to a radius about a clamping site on a rug. It will be automatically transported to virtually any desired point in a room when the furniture item that is poised via leg 108 on saucer 104 is moved.

Referring now to FIGS. 10, 11, and 12, there is seen a lighting stand having for its upright member a rigid tubular shaft 115, surmounted by an illuminating device including a cylindrical diffusing shade 116" andcapable of receiving therein at least one electric lamp bulb. Shaft has a slot in its base end to admit the vertical heelportion of angular base 118, having a foot 119'. Foot 119 is made thick enough so that it will not needrib reenforcement. Shaft 115 is prevented from rocking in the plane of vertical leg 117 by the presence of walls 120 of the slot in its upper endand by buttons 1-21' affixed flanking the base end of shaft 115. Foot 119 may be held firmly down against the floor by a hassock or other furniture item perched thereunder to receive illumination. With an illuminating device of different character in placethereabove, perhaps ofi'set like those in FIGS. 1, 2, 4, 5, or 14, foot 119 might he slipped under the edge of wall-to-wall carpeting. For erecting lamp stands of'this character without using a rug or hassock, it may be appropriate to use a generally similar angular base 123, shown fragmentarily by phantom lines. Base 123 would be cut out to clear shaft 115 and coupled to base 118 by substituting a bolt for at least one of the buttons 121.

Referring briefly also to FIG. 13, the foot 119 of FIGS. 10, 11, and 12' may carry' a level adjustment means in the toe portion. The means consists of a receiver 125, which may be screwed into threaded hole- 124 or may be soldered or otherwise secured via a hole or other scheme. Elevating screw 126 engages in receiver 125 and may have a swivel plate 127 for more secure positionin'g' againstan undersurface. The apparatus may then be positioned next to a wall behind a piano or other console or amulti-level table, the adjustment screw 126 being run up to a height that enables it to touch the console undersurface and make the lamp stand secure, with relatively narrow clearance between the console and wall, where no ordinary floor lamp could be located. The required clearance between console and wall drops virtually to nothing if upright member 24 and illuminating device 27 from FIG. 1 are substituted so that device 27 overhangs the console. Alternatively, the elastic upright members seen in FIGS. 4, 8, and 14, with overhanging fixturesshown in FIGS. 4 and 14, may likewise be substituted if their base ends are modified .to adapt to the foot structure in FIGS. 10, 11, and 12.

Referring now to FIGS. 14 and 15, the lamp stand or apparatus seen here is particularly suited for coupling to leg 130 of an extraneous chair or table in the manner of FIGS. 8 and 9, but more closely. Upright member or shaft 131 is preferably resilient and light enough in cross section to flex elastically and noticeably under the deforming weight of illuminating device 134. The base end of shaft 131 pivots in tube 132. Tube 132 is spotwelded, soldered, or otherwise bonded to cup base or foot 133, which serves as a receiver for table leg 130. Cup base 133 is so small in diameter that, without leg 130 in place, the lamp stand would be incapable of standing alone.

The apparatus of FIGS. 14 and 15 is a particularly cogent example of the philosophy herein expressed. As in other cases herein, such as FIGS. 1 and 2, the weight of foot 133 may be even less than that of the lightweight illuminating device 134, making the apparatus inherently top-heavy. Centers of gravity of some of the devices herein disclosed may approach or even exceed half of the overall height of the entire apparatus, and, even when of lesser height, may be off-center with respect to the floor-contacting portion of the sole under the foot. In this case it will be virtually impossible to poise the apparatus stably on its base or foot 133, whether the illuminating device 134 is positioned as shown, turned 90 in either direction or even reversed to a 180 position. Even if a relatively enormous additional cost of structure and ballasting material were to be invested in foot 133, perhaps even enough to bring the overall center of gravity down to the point where the apparatus could be poised momentarialy upon foot 133, the ordinary-service operation of the lamp switch by means of chain 135 would probably bring the apparatus crashing to the floor.

As seen here, the interior surface of the cup-shaped foot 133 has a constant height. The wafer of metal lying across the bottom of the small cup may be barely thick enough to withstand extremely low levels of bending stress in the walled foot 133. The small sizes and light weights of the feet supporting the various types of apparatus disclosed herein do not mean that thicker sections and broader sole areas are intolerable, they are permissible and they may even have uses, but the heavier sections are not required.

The illuminating apparatus designs revealed herein have in common the fact that their bases do not reveal the awkwardlyhigh and broad spreads or distances between points or limits or between plural individual areas of contact with a floor that are characteristic of the pedestals supporting conventional floor lamps. Nor, as in conventional designs, are they characterized by costly metallic sections in the bases or by weighting and ballasting chambers filled with lead, plaster, concrete, sand, etc. Generally the limiting spans in the feet of this invention are not determined primarily by stability considerations but are incidental toother functions, such as providing needed offsets between upright members of the apparatus on one hand and furniture legs on the other, perhaps to clear broad table tops.

There is very often a reciprocal relationship between the lamp stands of this invention and the furniture items which contribute to their stabilization. Thus, the lamp apparatus may in turn illuminate the desk or table from which it derives its own stability, without demanding table-top surface area for its placement; or the occupant of a chair may read by the light of a lamp which the back leg of his chair (and he as well) ballasts in position.

The bases of the illuminating structures in FIGS 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, '9, 10, 11, and 12, particularly, may also be positioned under hassocks or similar wide-bottomed items of furnishing. Very frequently, the illuminating devices herein will provide the occupant with illumination far superior to that which he can derive from the same size bulb in other kinds of lighing appliances.

With respect to most items of furniture or furnishing, the gravitational effect of the lamp upon the item is generally negligible, whether the reaction at the toe of the lamp stands own weight is positive (down) or negative (up). However, since adjustment means may transform the attitude of the apparatus from an unstable one through a stable range and beyond to a second region of instability, it will be well not to mate a tiny stool with a very heavy apparatus.

The yielding of flexible lamp shafts, such as those seen in FIGS. 2, 4, 5, and 7, which can function under rugs, and FIGS. Sand 14, which cannot do so in the manner described, tends to reduce the reaction at the base consequent upon jostling or bumping of the illuminating device. The momentary upward thrusting of a portion of the foot against the underside of a rug (which has adequate weight, strength, tie-down means, or combination of these) provides whatever momentary stabilizing reaction may be necessary for the duration of any disturbance. The clamp plates at the base ends of the upright members will not make noticeable indentations in rugs if they are equipped with tiny toes to pierce the pile and grip the backing of the rug against the base plate or foot. If the stabilizing item is a heavy enough piece of furniture, there will be no noticeable effect consequent upon any jostling of the apparatus.

It will be obvious that lighting fixtures, stands, and apparatus of the character introduced herein may take on other configurations differing in detail from the representative types portrayed herein without departing from the scope of these teachings. It is intended that objects deducible from the disclosures by one skilled in the alpplicable arts be covered by the claims. Therefore, I c arm:

1. A positioning apparatus for an electric lamp comprising:

an elongated upwardly extending member having a base end and an upper end;

an illuminating device adapted to receive an electric lamp therewithin,

said illuminating device being attached to said upper end;

foot means having a heel portion and a toe portion,

said base end being attached to said heel portion, said foot having planar sole area thereunder adapted for resting upon a flat floor, and minimal mass Within the horizontal scope of said area,

at least the toe portion of said foot being substantially wafer-thin in height and having an upwardly facing surface thereon for receiving at least a part of the bottom surface of a relatively heavy extraneous object,

said apparatus, exclusive of said object, having a relatively high center of gravity resultant from the arranged mass of the parts thereof,

said center of gravity being outside the zone above said sole area within which its presence would afford erect equilibrium for said apparatus in the absence of said object, said apparatus including also a switch for admitting electrical power to said device and an electrical supply wiring cord communicating between said device and switch and a terminal plug on the opposite end thereof, said apparatus lacking a sufficient margin of erect stability in the absence of said extraneous object to withstand casual manual actuation of said switch Without tipping over,

whereby the capability of said wafer-thin toe portion for accepting said object thereon effects considerable economy in the production cost of said foot and said apparatus.

2. An apparatus as in claim 1,

having also pivot means between said foot and said base end,

said device being offset from the axis of said pivot means,

whereby said device may be rotated in a generally lateral are.

3. An apparatus as in claim 1,

including also a position adjustment means for said device,

said means being interposed between said foot and said device,

the described location of said center of gravity occurring within the range of said adjustment means.

4. An apparatus as in claim 1 said toe portion being recessed downwardly,

whereby, when a furniture leg poised therein is moved laterally, said toe will remain thereunder and will accompany said leg.

5. An apparatus as in claim 1,

having also bearing surface incorporated between said toe portion and the remainder of said foot,

whereby said apparatus may be rotated through an are about said part of said object.

6. An apparatus as in claim 1,

having also height adjusting means projecting upwardly from said toe portion.

7. An apparatus as in claim 1,

said member being made of a resiliently flexible maiterial,

the weight of said illuminating device and the strength of said member being mutually proportioned to cause a clearly visible laterally and downwardly directed deflection in said member when said device is attached thereto,

said deflection displacing the said device,

thereby causing said line to be inclined as described.

8. An apparatus as in claim 3,

said foot being generally shallow and adapted for relatively inconspicuous fitment under a rug.

9. An electric lighting apparatus comprising:

a shallow foot shaped for inconspicuous placement under an extraneous rug;

an elongated upwardly extending member having a base end and an upper end;

at least one fastener,

said. fastener having a tip thereof suited for piercing and passing through said rug,

said foot and said base end being configured for mutual attachment by said at least one fastener with a rug therebetween;

and an illuminating device surmounting said upper said device having therewithin a receptacle adapted to receive an electric lamp.

10. An apparatus as in claim 9,

said fastener being attached to said foot,

said tip extending upwardly therefrom and entering the rug andsaidbase end from below.

11. An apparatus as in claim 9,

said fastener being adapted for drawing said base end forcefully down on said foot,

said foot and said base end having mutually facing areas considerably greater than the cross-sectional area between them of'said fastener,

whereby the extraneous rug is clampedb'etween said foot and said base end by the tensile force existing in said fastener.

12. An apparatus as in claim 11,

said base end being itself of insuflicient weight and dimensional spread of area adapted for contact with an extraneous surface to stably support said member and said device in position against gravity independently of said foot.

13. An apparatus as in claim 9,

said foot having a plurality of said fasteners distributed thereon,

said fasteners being adapted to project upwardly from said foot through the extraneous rug,

said base end having matching holes distributed therein,

said fasteners being configured to enter said holes,

whereby said base end will be enabled to resist displacement by forces laterally applied thereagainst.

14. A positioning apparatus for an electric lamp com-- prising:

end,

a footing'ther'efor having a heel portion and a toe por- -tion;

pivot means intermediate between said base end and said toe portion,

said footing having planar sole area thereunder adapted for resting on a flat floor,

at least the toe portion of said footing being substantially wafer-thin in height and having an upwardly facing surface thereon for receiving at least a part of the bottom surface of a relatively heavy extraneous object,

said apparatus, exclusive of said object, having a relatively high center of gravity resultant from the ar'- ranged mass of the parts thereof,

said center of gravity being outside the zone above'said area within which its presence would afford erect' equilibrium and stability against light overturning forces for said apparatus in the absence of said object.

151 An apparatus as in claim 14,

said toe portion having a laterally restraining surface rising above said upwardly facing surface;

16'. An apparatus as in claim 14,

said pivot means having its axis within said toe portion.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 375,702- 12/1'887 Fasoldt. 1 ,870,687 8/1932 McCandle'ss. 2,072,472 3/ 1937 Barbera. 2,712;056 6/ 1955 Murray 2404 2,726,327 12/1955 Shapiro 240-81 NORTONANSHER, Primary Examiner.

J5 W. PRICE, Assistant Examiner; 

14. A POSITIONING APPARATUS FOR AN ELECTRIC LAMP COMPRISING: AN ELONGATED UPWARDLY EXTENDING MEMBER HAVING A BASE END AND AN UPPER END; AN ILLUMINATING DEVICE ADAPTED TO RECEIVE AN ELECTRIC LAMP THEREWITHIN, SAID ILLUMINATING DEVICE BEING ATTACHED TO SAID UPPER END, A FOOTING THEREFOR HAVING A HEEL PORTION AND A TOE PORTION; PIVOT MEANS INTERMEDIATE BETWEEN SAID BASE END AND SAID TOE PORTION, SAID FOOTING HAVING PLANAR SOLE AREA THEREUNDER ADAPTED FOR RESTING ON A FLAT FLOOR, AT LEAST THE TOE PORTION OF SAID FOOTING BEING SUBSTANTIALLY WAFER-THIN IN HEIGHT AND HAVING AN UPWARDLY FACING SURFACE THEREON FOR RECEIVING AT LEAST A PART OF THE BOTTOM SURFACE OF A RELATIVELY HEAVY EXTRANEOUS OBJECT, SAID APPARATUS, EXCLUSIVE OF SAID OBJECT, HAVING A RELA- 